The Town of Three Rivers in Prince Edward Island is preparing for Winterval 2026, the fourth edition of the winter festival series, with three days of family activities, live music and food running January 23–25, 2026. The festival will stage events across Cardigan, Georgetown and Montague to give residents more outdoor recreation during the colder months.
This year’s lineup includes a dedicated Snow Zone (sledding, skating, snowshoeing and cross‑country skiing) and a new enclosed, heated performance area — the GFL Stage — for live acts. The weekend will also feature the debut of a New Orleans‑style nighttime parade, the March of The Light Brigade, alongside fireworks and the festival’s Fire and Ice Dance.
Hub activities will be centered at the Rodd Brudenell River Resort, which will host a lighted nature trail and a bonfire with s’mores. Other local spots — including Copper Bottom Brewing, Bogside Brewing and the Kings Playhouse (and the Cardigan Station Pub) — will hold satellite events and offer special menus for the weekend. Coverage in local outlets such as The Buzz PEI notes the festival has expanded since its launch in 2023 to fill a gap in winter entertainment and to encourage overnight stays.
Organizers say the event grew out of community requests for more fall and winter programming. As Heather MacLean, organizing‑committee chair, told CBC News during the festival’s launch, Winterval was created in response to local interest in year‑round events.
The festival officially begins Friday, January 23, 2026, at 4:00 PM (with fireworks scheduled for 6:30 PM), continues through Saturday and wraps up Sunday, January 25, 2026, in the late afternoon (Sunday activities run until about 4:00 PM). For full schedules and venue details, see the Three Rivers Festivals website and the Tourism PEI event listing.
